What Construction Management Oversight Covers on the Job Site

“Construction management” can mean very different things depending on who is offering it. For ACOT, it means a team that takes up residence at the job site for the duration of the work and represents the Owner in related matters on the project. The ACOT-assigned project manager works in close coordination with the client to make sure the project is adequately staffed to monitor and control the progress of the work.

The exact scope depends on the form of construction contract and the work breakdown structure. On many projects it covers every job site activity, from site clearing up to startup and commissioning, across all contractors, vendors, technical representatives and operations personnel. Here is what that looks like in practice.

Before and during design

• Constructability reviews. The CM reviews design documents as they are issued and comments on how buildable they are, identifying changes that could improve resource efficiency, equipment usage, safety, cost, schedule or quality without compromising the original design.
• Deliverables review. While reviewing the design documentation, the CM can comment on the state of the design deliverables.
• Permit compliance. ACOT can assist the Owner in securing the permits needed to construct the project under local, state and federal codes.

Keeping the paperwork straight

• Design change management. The CM coordinates and documents Requests for Information between the contractors and the designer.
• Document control. A field engineer can set up a document control system that receives, tracks and files every technical, commercial and casual document on the project.
• Submittals. The CM coordinates and monitors the transmittal and approval of contractor submittal drawings and materials.
• Document audits. Central and contractor files are audited against the latest document control indices so the facility is built from the current engineering documents.
• As-built drawings. The latest drawing revisions are kept up to date with every field change approved by the engineer of record.

Schedule, procurement and cost

• Overall project schedule. ACOT can prepare a master plan and construction schedule showing the critical path, cost and resource loaded, to generate an S-curve report that guides the contractor’s detailed plan.
• Procurement interface. The CM checks that all major materials sit within someone’s procurement program and that delivery dates support installation and commissioning.
• Cost control. Acting for the Owner, the CM reviews contractor invoices against work performed, materials provided and the contract requirements, and maintains cost data with monthly reports.
• Project review meetings. ACOT can take part in monthly project review meetings through construction, commissioning, startup and performance testing.

Why it matters

ACOT’s view is that a proactive approach to construction management lowers cost, improves quality and minimizes construction claims. Most of that comes from catching problems on paper, before they become problems in concrete.

See the full scope of ACOT Construction Management (ACM) services, or browse projects where ACOT has served as construction manager.